The Lambertville record., 1887-01-05

Rapidly with which InFormatio
Regarding Them is sEfend.

When disease is known to be incurable
lin vast majority of cases when from its
very nature it must prove fatal, such as
consumption of the lungs In Its last stages,
genuine cancer, organic diseases Of the
heart brain aud Kidneys, then every one Is
justified in calling whoever claims to have
discovered sure cure for il quack.
If his discovery prove to be genuine, the
title will prove only temporary, and do no
| particular harm. IL properly bestor-s..,
as it will in 900 out of 1 600 instances, II
may do good by warning of the unsuspect-
ing. The fact that new discovery in the
cure of disease is kept secret and IL the
source of large pecuniary profit Ia another
suspicious circumstance. Any discovery In
/ science of any value Is soon subjected TO
experiment by competent observers, and It's
merits or dement's are soon published to
the world. Medical facts follow the same
rule. The discovery Of artificial anmsthesia
by ether, chloroform and laughing gas was
known to all within few months.
That of local annsthesia by cocoaine was
known wherever civilization has penetrated
within three months Of its discovery. The
instances Of really valuable facts OF this
nature. being kept secret, for any protract-
ed period are too few TO be enumerated.
The claim that any person has discovered
something reilly valuable in the treatment
Of disease, which he alone holds in his pos
session, stamps the whole as piece Of
quackery. No one can afford to keep such
n ytt.o = f..f..
ly enlightened to pay literally for all the
help II can receive towards alleyating
suffering and lengthening life. False
notions as TO the nature of the disease have
had much TO do with encouraging quackery.
That medicines eradicate disease Is ardsntiy
believed by the majority of mankind. As
matter Of fact, however, drugs do nothing
Of the kind. They may remove materials
that poison the blood, aa quinine removes
the special cause Of ague but the patient
has to get well by virtue Of the powers Of
his own constitution. The physicians bus
mess Is to remove such obstructions MS iie
can discover. to aid the falling strength
whenever be has an opportunity, and, most
Of all, remove the causes of disease before
they can begin to act prevent their occur
ence. II must be understood that diseases,
as such, ore not the objects Of treatment,
but people who are III are the objects Of his
care. As long as This isso, the search for
sure cures, = ''panaceas and the like Is
certain 70 be disappointing
The ancient notions regarding the hypo-
tbetical elixir Of life, the power OF charms
and amulets, and the ability OF certain
gifted people TO see into the future, are
ell prevalent to much larger extent among
the ignorant fhnn most people can bring
themselves to believe. Thess beliefs are
the basis Of much lucrative quackery in
every large city. The idea Of witchcraft--
that II 10 possible for one person TO influence
another at distance without any visible
on tangible means of communication is
widely spread at the present day. 1t may
not be called witchcraft or anything which
would indicate league with the internal
powers, but II Is just as effective in its abil-
ity to draw cash from the pockets OF the
crodalous as in the days Of our ancestors.